Point to point optical communication system for conveying signals between multiple housings of a device
First Claim
1. An optical communication system for conveying signals between a first and a second housing element of a device, where the first and second housing elements are adapted to move relative to one another, the communication system comprising:
- one or more optical light sources, each optical light source being coupled to one of the first and second housing elements; and
one or more optical detectors, each optical detector corresponding to a respective one of the one or more optical light sources between which an optical communication connection via a respective one of one or more point to point communication paths is established, each of the one or more optical detectors being coupled to the other one of the first and second housing element, to which the respective corresponding optical light source is not coupled; and
wherein as the housing elements move relative to one another, the corresponding one or more optical light sources move relative to the corresponding respective one of the one or more optical detectors, while maintaining the point to point communication connection between a common point of the corresponding one or more optical light sources and a common point of the respective one of the one or more optical detectors.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical communication system is provided for conveying signals between multiple housing elements of a device, where respective optical detectors and optical light sources interact via respective point to point communication paths, where the point to point communication path is maintained while the multiple housing elements of the device move relative to one another. In at least some instances, the multiple housing elements correspond to at least a pair of housing elements that are incorporated as part of a communication device having a slider configuration. In some of the same or still further instances, the point to point communication paths correspond to channels formed between the multiple housing elements, which in some instances may be at least partially recessed within one or both of the housing elements. In some instances the channels may traverse free space. In still further instances the channel may include a light pipe.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An optical communication system for conveying signals between a first and a second housing element of a device, where the first and second housing elements are adapted to move relative to one another, the communication system comprising:
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one or more optical light sources, each optical light source being coupled to one of the first and second housing elements; and one or more optical detectors, each optical detector corresponding to a respective one of the one or more optical light sources between which an optical communication connection via a respective one of one or more point to point communication paths is established, each of the one or more optical detectors being coupled to the other one of the first and second housing element, to which the respective corresponding optical light source is not coupled; and wherein as the housing elements move relative to one another, the corresponding one or more optical light sources move relative to the corresponding respective one of the one or more optical detectors, while maintaining the point to point communication connection between a common point of the corresponding one or more optical light sources and a common point of the respective one of the one or more optical detectors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A wireless communication device comprising:
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a two part housing including a first housing element and a second housing element adapted to move relative to one another; and an optical communication system for conveying signals between the first housing element and the second housing element, the communication system including one or more optical light sources, each optical light source being coupled to one of the first and second housing elements, and one or more optical detectors, each optical detector corresponding to a respective one of the one or more optical light sources between which an optical communication connection via a respective one of one or more point to point communication paths is established, each of the one or more optical detectors being coupled to the other one of the first and second housing element, to which the respective corresponding optical light source is not coupled; and wherein as the housing elements move relative to one another, the corresponding one or more optical light sources move relative to the corresponding respective one of the one or more optical detectors, while maintaining the point to point communication connection between a common point of the corresponding one or more optical light sources and a common point of the respective one of the one or more optical detectors. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification